Printing machines



1962 J. A. MAUL ET AL PRINTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 10,1960 INVENTORS: JOHN A. MAUI.

WALTER J'. BRUGGE DAVID D.ANDE.R$OM

Jan. 30, 1962 .1. A. MAUL ET AL PRINTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 2Filed Feb. 10, 1960 wow kw a m. u 3 u ZE$ n INVENTORS: JCHN A. MAULWALTER J'. BRUGG DAVID D. ANDERSON Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. MAUL ETALPRINTING MACHINES 'T Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 10, 1960 Z w 5 5, S m m NmAsm E mMmA Am N 0 m2 Jwo M f 4 9% m? J. A. MAUL ET AL Jan. 30, 1962PRINTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 10, 1960 MPQ + mmvroas:JOHN A. MAUL WALTER .1. BRUGGE BY DAVID D. ANDERSON WWW Jan. 30, 1962 J.A. MAUL ET AL 3,018,725

PRINTING MACHINES Filed Feb. 10, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTORS: JOHNA. MAUL BY DAVID D. ANDERSON WALTER J. BRUGGE Jan. 30, 1962 J. A. MAULETAL PRINTING MACHINES '7 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Feb. 10, 1960 INVENTORSJOHN A. MAUl. WALTER J. BRUG i DAVID D. ANDERSON Jan. 30, 1962 J. A.MAUL ETAL PRINTING MACHINES '7 Sheets$heet '7 Filed Feb. 10, 1960INVENTORS JOHN A. MAUL. WALTER I. BR GGE BY DAVID B. ANDERSON Ma MUnited EQICS This invention relates to a hand operated printing machineand in particular to a machine of this kind wherein impressions areproduced by rolling a platen across the .face of a sheet which isdisposed over the upwardly disposed face of a printing plate or otherprinting means bearing type characters. 7

Hand operated printing machines wherein impressions are produced fromprinting plates of relatively small size and bearing type charactershave a wide variety of uses in connection with oil station services,library transactions and thelike, and in most instances the machine isequipped with other printing means such as a plate embossed with theaddress of the oil station, settable dater wheels bearing raisednumerals, and so on. It is desirable that the imprints be of goodquality and that the platen move accurately in a constant plane duringprintingto assureagainst imperfect prints that might result from one ormore of the type characters being missed during the time that theimpression is being made. Moreover, machines of this kind are usednumerous times during the course of a day with substantial forces beingbrought into play on each imprint, and hence must be able to withstand agreat deal of abuse. Heretofore, these aspects of high quality imprints,accuracy in operation, and rugged construction have usually beenattained only at relatively high production costs of the associatedmachines. Such constructions have usually entailed conventionalexpensive and cumbersome castings, precision machined parts, and thelike, and the primary object of the present invention is to enable amachine of the foregoing kind to be easily assembled from fabricatedparts such as stamped sheet material, light weight die castings, moldedplastics and the like. A related object of the present invention is toso construct a machine while making p-rovision for smooth and efficientmovement and accurate'guiding of a platen carriage.

The recordation and processing of data in connection with sales andservices has been greatly facilitated in recent years by developmentsinvolving the printing of data with a magnetic ink and in particular theprinting of numerical characters with type stylized to accentuatedifferences that are capable of being quickly scanned and converted intoelectrical impulses. Such data processing equipment utilizes forms orsheets such as tabulating cards and the like wherein the data are toappear in accurately oriented areas on the sheet. In view of this,another objectof the present invention is to so arrange the machine thatsuch a sheetcan be located in the machine accurately with respect to anembossed printing plate likewiselocated'with accuracy, and in particulartoenable the printing plateand sheet to be accurately located withoutinterfering with the effective operation of the platen; I

As will be explained hereinafter, imprints are obtained under thepresent invention by having resort either to a carbon sheet or an inkimpregnated platen roller. If a carbon sheet is present, this will be sodisposed in the machine as to have the olf-settable imaging materialthereon facing toward the side of the sheet or' form to be printed. Thetype characters used for prints may be either' direct reading orprinting type. If direct reading type isused, and since these underliethe sheet, the'platen when effective will produce a directly'readableatent O 3,018,725 Patented Jan. 30, 1962 ice image if the carbon facesdown. On the other hand, by using a transparent sheet as the top form,the carbon can face up and will produce a mirror image on the printedside of this top sheet but which is direct reading when read throughfrom the back or unprinted side. In the instance of a platen rollerimpregnated with the imaging material, the platen roller will be rolledalong the upwardly disposed face of an opaque sheet to be printed, andagain the printing plate is oriented on the bed of the machine with thedirect reading embossed type characters thereon facing upwardly and theopaque form or sheet to be printed is disposed thereover. In eitherevent, several sheets may be printed simultaneously.

The platen, if it is of the unimpregnatcd or' dry type will effect animprint as the result of effecting a pressure off-set of the imagematerial from the carbon sheet in accordance with the outline of thetype characters on the printing plate. If the platen is impregnated withthe image material, this material will be squeezed out of the platenroller in accordance with the outlines of the type characters on theprinting plate.v In view of the fact that the platen roller is carriedby a reciprocalcarriage having an idle or restored position, it isimportantto' avoid superfluous over-printing that might be induced bythe platen roller during the back or return stroke of the carriage.Accordingly, another object of the present inv'en: tion is to associatewith the platen and the carriage a toggle or platen shift mechanismwhich is eiiectiveon the backstroke of a platen roller to maintaintheplaten free of the sheet that was printed during the forward stroke ofthe platen. Since most users will specify that imprints are to be carboncopies, or a sharp copy obtained by use of an ink impregnated roller,another object of the present invention is to so construct the machineas to enable such alternative specifications to be met. Moreover, themachine can produce carbon impressions and an ink roller impressionsimultaneously, and so to do in a machine constructed alongthe'foregoing lines is another object of this invention.

It will be appreciated that in recording certain types of businesstransactions, numerous copies are required for inventory and otherbookkeeping purposes. These copies can represent a substantial thicknessespecially in' view of interleaved carbon sheets Where these are presenttogether with a'tabulating card and an opaque or bond top sheet. Inother instances, fewer copies are required,

and the height of the type characters afforded by the printing means mayvary under some circumstances. Therefore, another object of the presentinvention is to construct a machine of the kind involved in such amanner that the axis of rotation of the platen roller can be easilyadjusted to accommodate variations in type height or differentthicknesses of forms or sheets to be printed. Specifically, it is anobject of the present invention to do this by supporting the platenroller in a carriage that can be easily and accurately adjusted relativeto fixed elements in the machine so as to dispose the platen formovement in a plane that is predetermined as the one required to producethe sharpest imprint for the total thickness of the form or sheets thatare to be printed from type characters of a given height.

Specifically, other objects of the present invention are to accuratelyguide the platen carriage by elements. that cooperate with a platenguide rail in the machine; to im-, part smooth riding action to theplaten carriage by a novel arrangement of rollers and associated guiderail surfaces; to utilize eccentrics, associated with certain of theguide rollers, in providing for adjust-mentsof the platen roller; toproduce shifting of the platen roller to'an, ineffective plane duringthe course of a reciprocal stroke of the platen carriage by havingresort to a cooperating; rack and shift segment gear, and toassociatewitltthe' shift gear a control cam and holding detent; toconstruct the platen carriage and associated parts in such a manner thatthese can be easily assembled and disassembled; to enable adjustments ofthe platen carriage to be based on fixed guide rail structure in a novelway; and to enable the machine to be so constructed as to take intoaccount a wide variety of conditions of use.

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the present invention and the principles thereof and whatis now considered to be the best mode contemplated for applying theseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 2--2 of FIG.3;

FIG, 2A is a plan view of a printing plate to be used in the presentmachine;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation, broken away, of the machine illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIGS. 3A and 3B are end views and related positions of an eccentricassociated with the platen roller in accordance with one form of theinvention;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a right-hand end elevation of the machine as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a top elevation of the bed of the machine and showing thegauges in allocated positions;

FIG. 7 is a rear elevation taken on the lines 77 of the bed as shown inFIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a left-hand elevation taken on the lines 8-8 of the bed asshown in FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a detail sectional view on an enlarged scale showing detailsof the detent used to maintain the position of platen shift or togglinggear;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of one form of platen roller and certainassociated parts;

FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C are fragmentary detail views showing certainactions that occur during a reciprocal movement of the platen roller inthe form of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 12 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken substantially onthe line 12-12 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 13 is a top elevation of the platen carriage guide;

FIG. 14 is an end elevation of the carriage guide taken substantially onthe line 1414 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is an exploded view showing the platen carriage and the coverand guide therefor in perspective as these are related to the bed of themachine;

FIG. 15A is a perspective of an eccentric assembly used to shift theshiftable member of the platen carriage;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of another machine constructed along thelines of the present invention; and

FIG. 16A is a perspective View of the platen roller to be used with themachine shown in FIG. 16.

One form of the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as embodiedin a hand operated printing machine 20 which is adapted to produceimpressions obtained from the direct reading embossed type characters TCof a printing plate P, FIGS. 2 and 2A. The plate P may be embossed withcode embossures CE to print code representations simultaneously withassociated numerals TC if these are present. As will be explainedhereinafter, this printing plate will be disposed on the machine to havethe type characters TC, FIG. 2A, disposed upwardly, and these typecharacters will underlie the first sheet to be printed. For example, thefirst or lowermost sheet disposed on the machine over the printing platemay be in the form of an eighty-column tabulating card SF, FIG. 2 (or afifty-one column card SF) and it will be assumed that the upwardlydisposed side of this form (or a shorter form as will be explained) isoverlaid by a carbon sheet having the carbon side facing downward, andfurther that an opaque sheet to be printed in turn overlies the bare orupper side of the carbon sheet.

Thus, in the form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 2 to be explainedimmediately hereinafter, an ink impregnated platen roller PR, FIG. 2, isto be rolled with pressure across the underlying forms and the printingplate (or other printing means to be described). The top sheet will beprinted directly on its upper face by ink exuding from the platen rollerdue to the ressures established between the platen roller and theunyielding type characters, and at the same time the upper face of theunderneath tabulating card SF will be printed by the carbon sheet. Ofcourse, there may be other carbons and other sheets to be printedintermediate the sheet SF and the top-most or opaque sheet.

As will be explained hereinafter, the machine can be so modified as tohave a dry or unimpregnated platen roller in which event printing isentirely one based on the carbon sheet principle, and under thesecircumstances the top-most sheet can be transparent in nature havingdisposed immediately therebeneath an upwardly disposed carbon or even adouble faced carbon sheet. This transparent sheet will be printed on itsunderside, but these data will be directly readable through the back ortop side of the transparent copy, It will be appreciated that while aprinting plate bearing type characters of embossed form is specificallyreferred to herein for purposes of disclosure, other printing platesbearing type characters of different form can be used in the machine.

The machine 20 includes a bed 25, FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 alforded by a unitaryone-piece sheet of stamped metal so stamped as to afford a top plate 26having a planar upper surface of generally rectangular outline as willbe apparent in FIG. 6. Thus, the top plate has side edges from whichdepend generally at right angles thereto a pair of downwardly bent,narrow elongated flanges or side portions 28, FIGS. 7 and 8. Theseflanges terminate in fiat lower faces 28F that are disposed to terminatein a common horizontal plane, and the upper portions of the flangesmerge neatly into the plane of the top plate at rounded corners 28R sothat no sharp edges are presented to the user as will be apparent fromthe description to follow.

The opposed end edges of the bed 25 are stamped to afford outwardlydirected ears or narrow projections 30 of relatively short dimension asshown in FIG. 6. These are paired in a rather widely spaced relation ateach end of the top plate, and these projections are disposed inward ofthe four corners of the top plate 26. Thus, the projections 30 at eachend of the top plate are separated by expansive U-shaped recesses 30R,and additionally each of the projections 30 is substantially ofquarter-round nature as will be apparent in FIG. 7 and merges intodepending lugs 31 which are disposed in vertical planes substantially atright angles to the top plate 26. The lugs 31 have lower edges 31F, FIG.7, which terminate in planes spaced somewhat above the lower edges 28Fof the flanges 28, and these lugs, as will be explained, serve to affordthe supporting elements for the machine.

The top plate 26 is provided with an opening 35, FIG. 6, at apredetermined area where a dater wheel assembly DR, FIG. 1, is to beprovided so as to enable, if desired, the date of a transaction to beprinted on the form or sheet. The dater is supported at the underside ofthe top plate 26 and includes individually settable type wheels bearingin relief upwardly facing direct reading numerals, and these will be setat the start of each day to enable the date to be printed on a sheet.Additionally, the top plate 26 is provided with a pair of openings 37and 38 which enable attaching members 39, FIG. 1, to be passedtherethrough to secure to the bed of the machine a so-called stationplate SP, FIG. 1, embossed with upwardly facing, fixed or invariabledata, comprising type characters of either the direct reading" orprinting kind, delineating the address of a service station or the like.The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 is adapted for use with directreading type characters. Such auxiliary printing meanswill of course bepresent or not depending upon the nature of the business in which thepresent machine is used. The attaching members may be of the kindillustrated in the co-pending application of John A. Maul, Ser. No.849,015, filed October 27, 1959.

Thus, it will be seen that the bed 25 is to be so oriented as to disposethe top plate 26 in a horizontal plane as will be evident in FIG. 1, andthe top plate as thus disposed and oriented serves as the support forthe sheet or sheets to be printed, the support for the customer printingplate P, the support for other printing means such as a dater wheelassembly DR and a station or location plate In stabilizing and rigidlysupporting the bed 25, resort is had to a pair of end cover caps 40,FIGS. 1 and 3.

These cover plates are preferably light weight aluminum die castings,having reinforcing sections of different thicknesses, and areinterchangeable.

The end caps afford the standards or legs for the machine and at thesame time serve to support an elongated carriage guide rail 42 as willnow be described.

Thus, the end caps 40 are hollow in nature, being somewhat boxshaped inappearance, and each includes a transverse or intermediate section 46,FIGS, 2 and 4, having recesses 46R adapted to receive a pair of screws468 in position to extend through aligned openings 31R, FIG. 7, formedin each of the downwardly bent lugs. 3-1 at the opposite ends of the bed25. As will be evident in FIGS. 1 and 4, each end cap 40 is formed witha generally rectangular rim 50 of such dimension as to have the inwardlydisposed periphery 5GP (FIG. 4) thereof in slight overlappingrelationship with respect to the opposed ends of the bed when the innerfaces of the webs 46 abut the outer faces of end stop plates 51, FIG. 12of strip steel, which are interposed between each end cap and the lugs31 at the adjacent end of the bed. Each end stop plate "is generally ofV-form and thus includes a pair of up- Ward-1y and outwardly extendinglegs 51L and 51R, FIG. 12, which are formed adjacent the upper endsthereof with vertically elongated slots 51S adapted to be aligned withthe openings 31R, FIG. 8, formed in the associated pair of attachinglugs 31. As will be evident in FIG. 3, the nut and washer assembliesassociated with the attaching screws 468 are inwardly of the attachinglugs 31, and

the elongated nature of the slots 518 in each end stop plate enablethese to be vertically adjusted. This is so for the reason that each endplate 51 is provided with a rectangular opening in which the end of thelike configured guide rail 42 is disposed and supported as will beevident in FIGS. 3 and 12, and hence the rail 42 is capable ofadjustment in vertical planes to the extent permitted by the elongationsembodied in the openings 518. The guide rail 42 is in this mannerdisposed below and centered between the downwardly facing surfaces 28Fof the bed side flanges 28. The surfaces 28F and the upper surface ofthe guide rail 42 in parallel, spaced opposed relation theretocooperate, as will be explained, to afford fixed rail surfaces for railvroller elements carried by the platen carriage, and shiftingadjustments for the platen carriage and shifting of the platen rolleroccurs with respect to the surfaces 28F as a fixed base.

A stop lug 53, FIG. 3, is struck from each stop plate 51 so as to extendinwardly over and above the roller supporting surface of the track 42.These stop lugs serve to limit the-extent of reciprocal movement of theplaten carriage, as will hereinafter be evident, since each such lug isin- 6 wardly canted at such an angle as to be engageable by lower railrollers carried by a platen guide.

The rim 50 of each end cap includes a pair of side members 508 disposedin vertical planes, and inwardly directed legs 52 and 52A, FIG. 12, thelatter being formed with recesses in which rubber blocks 55 are fastenedas by screws or other means to provide good frictional contact with atable top or other supporting surface for the machine 20.

Thus, it will be seen that the machine as thus far described includesthree essential elements which afford the main supporting framework andthese include the bed 25, the two end caps 40, and the guide rail 42which serves in part to guide and support the platen carriage as will beexplained. Impressions are to be produced in part from embossed typecharacters on a printing plate properly located at printing position,and under the present invention a gauge is afforded in association withthe bed of the machine so as to assure that the printing plate Will beaccurately located in printing position. In the present instance, theprinting plate gauge is afforded by a strip of spring steel 60, FIG. 6,which has an upwardly directed lip 61 thereon aligned with a slot 62formed in the top plate 26 of the bed 25. The lip 61 is aligned in thedirection of movement of the platen roller and cooperates as will bedescribed with another gauge to enable the plate P to be accuratelylocated on the top plate 26.

It is of course important that the form to be printed be accuratelylocated with respect to the printing plate, and in accordance with thepresent invention several gauges are advantageously afforded forproperly positioning the form or sheet. At least one of these gauges isfixed in nature so that forms of different dimensions can be locatedwith respect thereto, but in view of the fact that forms to be printedunder the present invention are inclusive of tabulating cards the gaugesfor the sheet include an adjustable gauge which can be located inaccordance with several different sizes of tabulating cards. Thus, asshown in FIGS. 6 and 8, a. form gauge of molded plastic or the like isdisposed adjacent one of the corners of the bed plate 26, and the gauge70 includes a plate 71 adapted to be disposed in flush engagement withthe upper surface of the bed plate 26. A pair of right-angled shoulderelements 73 project upwardly from the plate 71 so as to neatly embracethe square corner of the form or sheet to be printed. Inasmuch as suchform may be a tabulating card wherein it is important that the dataprinted thereon be printed in an arcuate disposition, a second gauge 75of molded plastic or the like is disposedadjacent the right-hand cornerof the bed 25 as viewed in FIG. 2. As with a gauge 70, the gauge 75includes integrally molded screw studs 76 and 77, FIG. 7, which projectfrom the underside thereof and these studs are disposed in openings inthe top plate 26. The gauge 75 is held in proper position by spring-typenuts 78 and 79, FIG. 7, and like connections are afforded for the gauge70.

The gauge 75 is a right-angle gauge and is employed in printing machinesadapted for use with a station plate S? and a plate P having directreading type characters. Where printing type characters are utilized, onthe plates, the gauge 75 may include an angled lip which has a straightleg 89 corresponding to a portion of the straight edge of a tabulatingcard. The right end of the lip 80, as viewed in FIG. 6, is then taperedas indicated in phantom at 801 in accordance with the standard anglecut-off at the corner of a tabulating card, and the tapered portion 8iiTmerges into an extension 8013 which is disposed at right angles to theleg 80. The gauge'lip thus afforded will neatly embrace the angled endof a tabulating card, and this in conjunction with the gauge element 7bconstitutes an arrangement whereby a tabulating card has but one properposition in the machine 20.

The gauge construction described above and illustrated in bold lines inthe drawings is for a tabulating card of standard eighty column width,but inasmuch as tabulating cards are also of fifty-one column width,provision is made for locating the gauge 75 to accommodate a tabulatingcard SF, FIG. 2, of shorter dimension. Thus as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7,the opening 85 in the top plate 26 in which the stud 77 is located is ofelongated nature. In alignment with the opening 85 is another opening86, FIG. 6, in the top plate 26, and this opening is so located as toenable the gauge 75 to be shifted with the stud 76 at the undersidethereof disposed in the elongated opening 85, and the stud 77 disposedin the opening 86. The parts and openings thus described are sodimensioned as to assure that when the gauge 75 is thus relocated, lips80, 801" and 80E will be in position to neatly engage the angle cornerof a tabulating card of fifty-one column width.

In any event, whether or not a tabulating card or associated tear sheetis to be printed in the present machine, it will be recognized that thegauge 7 enables the sheets of a salesbook or other record to beaccurately located in printing position, and the form gauges aredisposed out of the path of the platen roller as will be hereinafterapparent.

Impressions are produced by having resort to a platen roller PRrotatably supported in a carriage 100, FIG. 1, which is equipped with ahandle 101 enabling the operator to easily move the carriage from theleft-hand or inactive position shown in FIG. 1 through a printing stroketo the right, and during the course of the printing stroke, the platenroller, which can be of alternative forms, as will be describedhereinafter, is brought to bear in a printing relation on the upper faceof a sheet to be printed so as to cause the sheet to be printed inaccordance with the embossed type characters on the printing plate andthe type characters on the address plate and dater Wheels if these bepresent.

The carriage 100 is guided and supported for movement by means includinga pair of rollers 105 which are rotatably supported in a carriage guide110, FIG. 15. Thus, the carriage guide 110 as shown in FIG. 15 includesarms 111 and 112 that are to extend outward of both sides of and atright angles to the guide rail 42. The central portion of the carriageguide is channeled or recessed at the fore and aft ends thereof as bestshown in FIG. 13 to afford recesses 105R in which the rollers 105 aredisposed. These recesses are defined by a pair of spaced lugs 114 and115 at each end of the carriage in the central portion, and these lugsare formed with aligned openings in which a knurled axle or pin 105A ispress fitted in each instance and on which the associated roller 105 isrotatably mounted.

The arms 111 and 112 referred to above have outwardly directed spacedextensions 111E and 112E so that the guide is somewhat H-shaped inoutline as will be apparent in FIGS. 13 and 15, and the flat ends ofthese extensions are provided with tapped openings 111T and 112T asshown in FIG. 15 to enable the platen roller support member of thecarriage to be affixed thereto as a unitary assembly as will now bedescribed.

The carriage 100 is generally U-shaped in appearance as shown in FIG. 15and includes a top transverse o-r bight portion 120 and a pair ofdepending legs 121 which are spaced one from another somewhat more thanthe distance that separates the outer faces of the flanges 28. In thisconnection, it will be noted in FIGS. 14 and 15 that the lugs 114 and115 of the platen carriage guide are of such dimension as to embraceopposite sides of the guide rail 42, and in this manner the platencarriage as a whole including the guide is limited against lateralshift.

The vertically extending side members 121 of the platen carriage 100 areprovided at the lower ends thereof with spaced openings 125 and 126 inthe form of countersink holes for receiving flat head screws, theseopenings extending from the outer faces to the inner faces of the sidemembers 121 as will be apparent in FIG. 15. The

openings and 126 are adapted to register with the tapped openings 111Tand 112T of the carriage guide, and when these openings are thus broughtinto registry flat head screws as 127 and 128, FIG. 3, are passedtherethrough with the slotted heads disposed outwardly.

Located centrally between the openings 125 and 126 at each side of theplaten carriage is an opening 130, FIG. 12, in which is disposed theshank 131 of a stud having a slotted cap end 132 which faces outwardlyof the side member of the platen carriage. Thus, the studs having theheads 132 can be turned in the openings by a screw driver. The innerends of these studs are each provided with an eccentrically locatedstub, FIG. 12, on which a rail roller 135 is mounted for free rotationin each instance and in position to run along the rail surface 28F ofthe associated bed side flange 28. Suitable washers 131W, FIG. 15A, andthe rollers are retained in position by nuts 131N that are run up onthreaded ends of the eccentrically located stubs 131E.

In adjusting the vertical position of the platen roller PR, the screws127 and 128 are first tightened to hold the carriage 100 in rigidrelationship with respect to the carriage guide 110. Next, the screws46S are loosened and the platen carriage 100 is moved to the extremeleft-hand position as seen in FIG. 3. In this way, the roller 105 ridesunder the angle member 53, raising the end-stop plate 51 and, of course,causing the rail 42 to be raised accordingly. When the proper setting isachieved, the screws 465 are tightened. This same adjustment, of course,is done at both ends of the machine and the eccentrics are properly set.

The platen carriage assembly is completed by the handle 101 whichincludes a generally rectangular base plate 1013 having depending guidelugs 1016 at the opposite ends thereof. These lugs are adapted to engageshoulders 1008, FIG. 12, exposed at top of the carriage 100. The handleis recessed at 101R, FIG. 12, downwardly from the top to enable capscrews to be disposed therein for tightening in threaded openings 100T,FIG. 15, which open at the top of the carriage 100, The openings 100Tare provided in bosses 100B that project upwardly from ledge elements100L at the top of the carriage 100, and the bosses 100B have flat upperfaces which are cngageable by corresponding flats 101F which facedownwardly from the underside of the handle 101 as shown in FIG. 12. Theplaten roller is supported within a relatively large space afforded byrecessing the platen carriage and its handle as will hereinafter bementioned.

The platen roller PR is of the porous type capable of being impregnatedwith a large quantity of fluid marking material available throughout anextended period of use, but as will be explained hereinafter, modifiedrollers of the dry or unimpregnated type may also be employed in amachine of the kind under consideration. Referring to FIG. 2, the platenroller PR is formed with an elongated bore that extends therethroughfrom one end to the other, and a quill or shaft is disposed within thebore of the platen roller. This supporting shaft is formed with a pairof end stubs 141 which project outwardly therefrom beyond the ends ofthe platen roller, and the free ends of these stubs are flattened atfaces 141F that lie in a common plane for a purpose to be describedhereinafter. The bore of the platen roller is lined with a solid sleeve145 having a knurl fit to the bore of the platen roller, and needlebearing assemblies NB are disposed between the inner portions of thestubs 141 and the opposed cylindrical surface of the sleeve 145 at thetwo ends thereof, whereby the platen roller is supported for freerotation relative to the supporting shaft 140.

One of the stubs 141 is pressed into an opening which is eccentricallylocated on a cylindrical bushing 147 of molded plastic, FIGS. 2 and 10,and the other stub 141 is pressed into a like bushing 148 which ismolded integral with a segment gear 150. The bushings thus afforded aresupported for free turning movement in split bearing surfaces, suchincluding 180 downwardly facing surfaces 101BR, FIG. 12, at spacedlocations within the platen carriage handle 101, and mating upwardlyfacing arcuate bearing surfaces 150, FIG. 15, which are at the innermargins of the ledges 1001., exposed at the top of the platen carriage100. These bearing surfaces are separated by an open space 151 aifordedby recessing the carriage and handle, as will be apparent in FIG. 12, ofsufiicient dimension to enable the operating surface of platen roller PRto be freely disposed for rotation therein, and advantageously platenroller guards in the form of inwardly directed fingers 152 are formed inthe carriage 100 to be located along the two sides of this space inwhich the platen roller PR is disposed.

Thus, it will be seen that the supporting shaft or axle 140 iseccentrically mounted with respect to the bushing elements 147 and 148,and the flats 141F face toward the high part of the eccentric in eachinstance as shown in FIG. 3A. Hence, by rotating these bushings, theaxis of the platen roller can be shifted or toggled in a vertical plane,and this shifting movement is independent of the vertical adjustment ofthe carriage including the above referred to eccentric elements 131Eassociated with the rail surfaces 28F. This independent shifting actionof the platen roller PR is afforded in order that the platen roller willbe disposed in an effective or imprinting plane only during the forwardor printing stroke of the platen carriage 100. In other words, as willbe explained in detail hereinafter, the platen roller PR is to beshifted to an ineffective plane during the return stroke of the platencarriage to skip and thereby avoid excessive inking or over-printing ofthe sheet that was printed during the forward or printing stroke of theplaten carriage. While such skipping is primarily of advantage inconnection with an ink impregnated platen roller as PR, such can also beused advantageously in connection with the form of the machinehereinafter described using a dry or standard platen roller. Suchindependent shifting of the platen roller during the course of areciprocat ing stroke thereof is under control of the segment gear 150.This gear is associated with a pair of spaced rack elements 153 and 154,FIGS. 2 and 6, so as to be driven or oscillated thereby during thereciprocal strokes of the platen carriage, and such oscillation turnsthe bushings 147 and 148 which eccentrically support the axis ofrotation of the platen roller. The two end teeth 150-1 and 150-4 (FIGS.11A and 11C) are made longer than the inner teeth to assure goodengagement of the racks and gear when the platen PR is adjusted forextremely thick forms.

The rack elements 153 and 154 are part of a one-piece plastic moldedrack and gauge member 155, FIG. 6, which is removably mounted on the bedtop plate in the same manner as the form gauges described above. Themember 155 is so shaped and oriented as to cooperate with the gauge leg61 in affording the gauge for the printing plate P. Thus, the rack andgauge member 155 is formed to provide a pair of legs 157 and 158, FIG.6, on which, respectively, rack teeth 153T and 154T are located, andthese elements are formed as projections on related left and right handflanges 160 and 161 which have the lower surfaces thereof disposed inflush engagement with the upper face of the top plate 26. The flanges1'60 and 161 have rounded outer margins as 160R, FIG. 8, shapedcomplemental to the rounded upper portions of the flanges 28 so as toafford a neat appearance therewith. As shown in FIG. 7, one of the sideflanges 28 of the bed is recessed downwardly from the top at 28R, and aU-shaped joining portion 155U, FIG. 7, integrally joins the side flanges160 and 161 and is disposed in the recess 28R. The U-shaped joiningportion 155-U is open at the top and back, thus affording a pocket inwhich the fingers can be inserted from the back of the machine inpositioning and removing the printing plate.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6, the projections 157 and 158 which areassociated with the rack teeth have their inner edges spaced one fromthe other to afford spaced gauge shoulders 157E and. 158E spaced inaccordance with the corresponding dimension of the printing plate P,Additionally, the flanges 160 and 161 are provided with aligned gaugeribs 160R and 161R, FIG. 6, which are located rearward of the shoulders15713 and 158E. These ribs are parallel to the gauge 61. Thedimensioning is such that the printing plate P is accurately located inprinting position with one edge LE, 2 and 2A disposed against the gaugeelement 61 and with thecorner portions LC and RC at the opposite edgethereof embraced respectively by the shoulders 157E160'R and 15SE161R.In effect, the printing plate is inserted in place from the back of themachine as viewed in FIG. 1 with the edge LE leading and with the typecharacters thereon directly readable by the user at the front of themachine. It will be observed that the trailing edge TB of the printingplate, FIG. 2, is disposed well over the pocket defined by the part155-U and hence the rear marginal portion of the plate can be easilygripped for removal. By interchanging rack and gauge members as 155having differently spaced gauge shoulders and ribs, different sizedprinting plates can be accommodated.

The start or idle position of the platen carriage is shown in FIGS. 1, 2and 3, and it will be recognized that when in this position, the bed ofthe machine is exposed to enable the printing plate P to be properlypositioned in association with the station plate SP and the da-ter DR inthose instances where such additional printing means are provided, andas explained above, the printing plate will be inserted with the edge LEthereof in a leading or forward position. After the printing plate hasbeen thus positioned, the form to be printed is next located there'-over, utilizing the gauges and in those instances where a tabulatingcard is included among the forms.

The segment gear 150, as shown in FIG. 2, is disposed in alignment withthe rack teeth 153T and 154T, and in this form of the machine theeccentrics 147148 are so related to the shaft that the platen will bedisposed in an elevated or inefiective position at the commencement of aprinting stroke, and this disposition is determined and completed duringthe return stroke of the platen carriage as will be explainedhereinafter.

Formed integral with the gear 150' and related substantially 180 theretois a symmetrically shaped cam which includes a pair of spaced dwells D1and D2 that are separated by a lobe 170L. In the specific embodiment,this lobe is 106 in extent, and this corresponds to the are throughwhich the gear 150 is' stepped by the rack teeth 153T and 154T. A springdetent holds gear 150 in the last of its actuated or driven positions.Thus, a holding detent including a ball is retained in the handle of theplaten carriage, and the ball 175 is spring urged toward the cam 170 soas to in effect ride on the cam surface in a tensioned state. The ball175 will be spring urged into one or the other of dwells D1 or D2 whenthe lobe 170L passes off the ball 175. The ball 175 is, as shown in FIG.9, engaged by a coil spring 176 which is disposed in an elongated,vertically oriented recess 177 formed in the platen carriage handle 101as best shown in FIG. 12, and it should be further pointed out in thisconnection that a guide stud 178, FIG. 2 projects outward from the faceof the gear and cam assembly 150170 in position to revolve in areceiving recess 179 formed within the handle 101 as shown in FIGS. 2and 12.

The start or home position ofthe platen carriage is illustrated in FIGS.1, 2 and 3 as being at the left-hand end of the machine as viewed inthese figures with the lefthand one of the guide rollers 105 inengagement with the left-hand one of the platen carriage stops 53 asshown in FIG. 3. This disposition of the bushings 147 and-148 and therelated.eccentric support for the axle of the platen roller PR areindicated in FIGS. 3A and 1 1A, but it should be pointed out inconnection withFIG. 11A that the gear 150 in the start or home positionof the .platen 11 carriage is spaced to the left of the rack 153 as willbe evident in FIG. 2. Consequently, as the platen carriage is shifted tothe right no movement of the gear 150 occurs until the leading tooth ofthis gear strikes the rack teeth 153T, and until this engagement occursthe platen roller PR is disposed in its uppermost position, that is, inits ineffective plane. As the leading tooth 15041, FIG. 11A, of the gear150 engages the first or No. 1 tooth to the left on rack 153T (FIG.11A), gear 150 tends to be driven or stepped in a clockwise direction asviewed in FIG. 11A, and as the platen carriage is advanced further tothe right as viewed in FIGS. 2 and 3, the gear teeth are stepped aroundone-by-one gradually oscillating gear 150 clockwise and lowering theaxis of rotation of the platen roller. Such lowering of the platenroller is due to the gradual lowering of the eccentrically locatedopenings in the bushings 147 and 148 which carry the platen roller shaftstubs 141 and which are turned concentrically in their bearing supportsby and with gear 150. During this stepping action, the ball detent ineffect rides out of the holding dwell D2 and up onto the lobe 170L.However, as the trailing gear tooth 150-4 commences to pass off the lastor No. 4 tooth of the rack teeth 153T (full lines, FIG. 11B) the platenroller is already in its effective plane as will be evident from thelocation of the flat surface 141F, and the ball detent 175 drops intothe dwell or holding recess D1 to maintain this printing position of theplaten roller PR. This occurs as the platen roller commences to passinto the area of the printing plate P or other printing means. Theplaten roller is now in printing position to bear forcefully on theuppermost one of the sheets to be printed. There is some over-travel ofthe detent 175 up onto a flat biasing lobe 170141 of the cam 170 as geartooth 15tl-4 finally passes along the top of the last or No. 4 tooth ofrack 153 (dotted lines, FIG.

1113) but as gear 150-4 frees itself of tooth No. 4 on rack 153, thedetent 175, engaging the sloped dwell 170L1, re-positions cam 170 sothat the detent is in effect returned to the dwell D1.

Further movement of the platen carriage to the right is nowcharacterized by an effective printing stroke with the nadir line of theplaten roller tracing out an effective pressure plane. Ink is exuded ifthe platen roller is impregnated, or carbon is 'ofi-set image-wise ifcarbon sheets are used in conjunction with a dry platen roller of thekind hereinafter to be mentioned. The spring gauge 61 for the printingplate will be depressed by and hence does not interfere with the actionof the platen roller. As gear 150 passes away from the printing meansand into the path of the rack teeth 154T, these rack teeth merely nudgegear 156 clockwise as viewed in FIG. 11C causing a repeat of the abovedescribed overtravel of the detent 175 (dotted lines, FIG. 11C) and asgear tooth 150-4 is finally located to the right of the first or No. 1tooth of rack 154 (FIG. 11C) detent 175 will again be disposed in recessD1 of cam 170 to position gear 150 in the second of its limit positions,this being the limit position after completion of a printing stroke.Hence, on the return or idle stroke of the platen carriage, gear 1504 isin a lower position to strike the first or No. l tooth on rack 154.

The end of the stroke in which printing is effected is characterized bythe right-hand roller 105, FIG. 3, striking the right-hand one of thecarriage stops 53 as indicated by dotted line in FIG. 3, and referringto FIG. 2 it will be realized that when the forms being printed aretabulating cards or other large forms, the carriage in this right-handlimit position interferes with removal of such forms. In view of this,the platen carriage is to be returned to its home position to facilitateremoval of the form or forms printed, and in order to preventoverprinting, especially if an ink-impregnated platen roller is used,the platen roller under the present invention is shifted or toggled backto its ineffective plane during the return stroke of the platen carriageto thereby skip the previously printed form. Consequently, during thereturn or idle stroke of the platen carriage, what was previously thetrailing gear tooth 1504 now becomes the leading tooth, FIG. 11C, and asthe gear reaches the rack 154 (full lines, FIG. 11C) gear 150 is steppedor oscillated counterclockwise from the limit position shown in FIG.11C. Such counterclockwise stepping of the gear 150 rotates the bushings147 and 148 and the eccentrically related axle for the platen roller iscarried counterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 11C to raise the platenroller to its ineffective or start position. The detent 175 travels outof the pocket or limit dwell D1, over the top of the lobe 1701. andeventually drops into the home dwell D2 as the last tooth of the gear150, during the course of the left-hand or return movement of the platencarriage, commences to pass off the most left-hand one or No. 4 tooth ofthe rack teeth 154T as viewed in FIG. 11C. Over-travel of detent 175will occur along the bias lobe L2, but detent will reposition the cam toengage in dwell recess D2 as No. 4 tooth of rack 154 is finally passed.The gear will be nudged as tooth 150-1 hits tooth No. 4 on rack 153, andover-travel of detent 175 again takes place on lobe 170L2 (dotted lines,FIG. 11A), but when gear tooth 150-1 is finally disposed to the left oftooth No. 1 of rack 153, detent 175 is effective in cooperation with thebias lobe 17012 to relocate gear 150 in its starting limit positionshown in full lines in FIG. 11A. It will be recognized from this thatgear 150 has two limit positions respectively indicated by full lines inFIGS. 11A and 110, these being the limit positions respectively forinstituting lowering of the platen roller (FIG. 11A) and raising of theplaten roller (FIG. 11C) and gear 150 is biased to these limit positionsby the detent 175 active between the dwells or recesses D1 and D2 andthe related bias lobes 1701.1 and 170L2.

A modified form of hand operated printing machine constructed inaccordance with the present invention is illustrated in FIG. 16. Thisform of the machine, 20A, is one wherein the platen roller PR, FIG. 16A,need not be toggled or shifted during the course of a reciprocalmovement of the platen carriage for reasons to be explained. The platencarriage, 200 in this instance, and its handle, wil be providedinternally with split bearings in accordance with the constructionreferred to above, and these will support bushings 201 and 202, FIG.16A, which concentrically carry the axle or supporting shaft 205 of theplaten roller PR. Furthermore, since a gear as 150 is not utilized inthis instance, there need be no rack teeth on the bed of the machine,and consequently, a printing plate gauge 210, devoid of associated rackteeth, is located along the rear edge of the top plate of the machine20A. The gauge 210 is formed with rightangled shoulders 212 and 213 thatare paired one with another so as to embrace the corners at the trailingedge of a printing plate of the kind described above, and the oppositeedge of this plate will be engaged by a Spring type gauge 61 of the kinddescribed above. In view of the form of the gauge 210, the printingplate in this instance is more or less dropped downwardly into position,but there is a relatively wide space between the shoulders 212 such asto enable the fingers to be easily disposed therebetween incidental toinserting and removing the printing plate.

The form of the invention illustrated in FIG. 16 serves to demonstratethe wide variety of forms which a machine of the present invention iscapable of handling. Thus, a pair of form or sheet gauges 215 and 16 areremovably secured to the top plate of the bed of the machine 20A, andthese gauges are formed with right-angled or L- shaped gauge shoulders217 and 218 which are so located as to enable these shoulders to embracethe corners along one edge of relatively short forms of the sales orreceipt book type, and it will be recognized that variations in 13 gaugeformation and location can be utilized in both forms of the machinedescribed herein. 7

Otherwise, the machine ZtiA is substantially identical to the machinedescribed above, which is to Say that the bed construction and guiderail and rail roller elements are identical to those embodied in themachine 29, the relation of the end caps to the bed of the machine isthe same including the guide rail supports and end stops for the platencarriage, and the platen carriage member which is adapted to be shiftedwith the platen carriage guide in the maner described above inconnection with FIGS. 15 and 15A of the drawings.

The platen carriage lit-i is shown in FIG. 16 at one end of the machinein position to be moved to the opposite end of the machine through aprinting stroke. However, in this form of the invention, the platenroller PR will be located in its pressure printing position plane at alltimes by having pre-set the necessary adjustment to the eccentrics abovedescribed which position the platen carriage relative to the railsurfaces in accordance with the thickness of the forms to be printed.Thus, since the forms to be printed by the machine 20A are of shortdimension, the platen carriage will be located free thereof at eitherend of its reciprocal stroke. This enables the form or forms to beremoved after a stroke of the platen irrespective of the end of themachine where the platen carriage happens to be. There is, therefore, noneed to return the platen carriage Zilil to a start or home positionwhich would cause over-printing.

It will be seen from the foregoing that under the pres ent inventionthere is afforded a hand-operated printing machine constructed frominexpensive molded, shaped or die-cast parts which can be mass producedto enable the machine to be constructed at low cost. Thus, the bed ofthe machine is essentially a one-piece stamped part wherein sideportions depending from a top plate afford rail surfaces, and whereinseparately formed end caps are removably attached to the bed of themachine and serve to support the member affording a third rail surfacespaced below and centered between the first-named rail surfaces. Theserail surfaces afford the essential guides and supports for the platencarriage which has rail rollers associated with the aforementioned railsurfaces, and advantageously end stops are disposed adjacent the ends ofthe last named rail element to limit and define the terminal position ofreciprocal movement of the platen carriage.

The platen carriage is constructed from parts which are easily assembledand disassembled, and these include a separately fabricated platencarriage guide equipped with rail rollers, a separately fabricatedcarriage member in which the platen roller is rotatably supported, and ahandle which is removably secured to the top of the carriage member inwhich the platen roller is supported. By removing the handle, the platenroller can be removed for repair or replacement and an interchangebetween impregnated or unimpregnated platen rollers can be made. Thisalso facilitates adjustments such as can be efiect'ed on the gear 150 orthe eccentrics 147 and 148 to relate these for precision movement of theplaten roller in the toggled form of the machine, and in any event itwill be recognized that the platen carriage is constructed from aminimum number of par-ts which afford a maximum I platen carriage guiderollers 135 which ride on the rail surfaces 28F, and hence alladjustments in the platen carriage and vertical shifting movement of theplaten roller occurs with respect to this rail surface as. apredetermined fixed based plane.

Depending upon the size of the forms to be printed, the machine may ormay not be equipped to toggle the platen roller. Thus, lone formsrequire a return of the platen carriage to its home position to enablethe printed form to be removed, and during such return over-printing isprevented by raising the platen roller to its ineffective position toskip the previously printed form. With short forms, this is notrequired, since the printed forms can be removed irrespective of the endof the machine whereat the platen carriage is located after effecting animprint.

Finally, it is to be stressed that over-printing during the back strokeof the platen carriage when required is effected under the presentinvention in a highly unique manner, such emanating from rack teeth onthe bed of the machine engageable by an oscillatable segment gear, whichin turn when driven or'rotated, re-locates the axis of the platenroller, and specifically this is accomplished by causing bushings, whicheccentrically carry the axle of the platen roller, to be turnedsimultaneously with the aforementioned gear.

Thus, while we have illustrated and described the preferred embodimentsof our invention, it is to be understood that these are capable ofvariation and modification, and we; therefore do not wish to be limitedto the precise details set forth, but desire to 'avail ourselves of suchchanges and alterations as fall within the purview of the followingclaims.

W e claim:

1. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over priuting means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid one-piece sheet material andaffording a generally rectangular planar top plate adapted to supportsaid printing means in position to have an imprint made therefrom,elongated side portions integral with and bent downwardly from spacedopposite sides of said top plate and terminating in downwardly facingsurfaces that are spaced one from another to afford a pair of fixed railsurfaces for a platen carriage, lugs integral with and bent downwardlyfrom each of the remaining opposite sides of said top plate at spacedlocations to serve as elements which afford the supporting leg structureof the machine, end caps removably attached to the outer faces of saidlugs and having portions overlapping the adjacent ends of said bed andother portions disposed below the terminal edges of said lugs to affordthe legs for the machine, and individual elements on said bed havingupstanding shoulders respectively affording a gauge for an individuallypositionable printing plate and a gauge for an individually positionablesheet to be printed, and a platen carriage and associated platen rollerrelated to said bed for reciprocal movement relative thereto.

2. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid one-piece sheet material andaffording a generally rectangular planar top plate adapted to supportsaid printing means in position to have an imprint made therefrom,elongated side portions integral with and bent downwardly from spacedopposite sides of said top plate and terminating in fiat downwardlyfacing surfaces that are spaced one from another and which terminate insubstantially the same place to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces fora platen carriage, attaching lugs integral with and bent downwardly fromeach of the remaining opposite sides of said top plate at spacedlocations to serve as elements which afford the supporting leg structureof the machine, and a platen carriage and associated platen rollerrelated to the bed for reciprocal movement.

3. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid sheet material and affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom, elongated sideportions integral with and bent downwardly from spaced opposite sides ofsaid top plate and terminating in flat downwardly facing surfaces thatare spaced one from another and which terminate in substantially thesame plane to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces for a platencarriage, attaching lugs integral with and bent downwardly from each ofthe remaining opposite sides of said top plate at spaced locations, endcaps removably attached to the outer faces of said attaching lugs andhaving portions disposed below the terminal edges of the attaching lugsto afford the legs for said machine, and a third platen carriage railhaving ends supported adjacent said end caps below and substantiallycentered between the first-named rail surfaces.

4. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid sheet material and affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom, elongated sideportions bent downwardly from spaced opposite sides of said top plateand terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced one fromanother and which terminate in substantially the same plane to afford apair of fixed rail surfaces for a platen carriage, end caps removablyattached to said bed and having portions disposed below the terminaledges of said side portions to afford the legs for said machine, a guiderail extending between said end caps substantially parallel to and belowsaid fixed rail surfaces and affording another rail surface, a platencarriage rotatably supporting a platen roller and having rail rollersdisposed to engage said rail surfaces, and means for shifting the platencarriage and platen roller in directions normal to said fixed railsurfaces.

5. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed affording a generally rectangular planar topplate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side portions joined to and dependingfrom spaced opposite sides of said top plate and terminating in surfacesthat are spaced one from another and which terminate in substantiallythe same plane to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces for a platencarriage, means affording leg elements secured to said bed, meansdisposed below said rail surfaces and affording another rail surfaceextending parallel thereto, a platen carriage rotatably supporting aplaten roller and including rail rollers disposed in engagement withsaid rail surfaces, and means for shifting the platen carriage andplaten roller normal to said fixed rail surfaces.

6. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid sheet material and affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom, elongated sideportions bent downwardly from spaced opposite sides of said top plateand terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced one fromanother and which terminate in substantially the same plane to afford apair of fixed rail surfaces for a platen carriage, means verticallyadjustable and supporting a guide rail extending parallel to and belowsaid fixed rail surfaces and affording another rail surface, a platencarriage rotatably supporting a platen roller and having rail rollermeans disposed to engage said fixed rail surfaces and other rail rollermeans disposed to engage said other rail surface, and eccentric meansaffording the axis of rotation for the first-named rail roller means.

7. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed affording a planar top plate adapted to supportsaid printing means in position to have an imprint made therefrom,elongated side portions joined to and depending from spaced oppositesides of said top plate and terminating in surfaces that are spaced onefrom another and which afford a pair of rail surfaces for a platencarriage, means aifording leg elements secured to said bed, meansaffording another rail surface spaced a predetermined distance from thefirst-named rail surfaces and extending parallel thereto, a platencarriage rotatably supporting a platen roller and including rail rollersdisposed to travel on said rail surfaces, means for changing saidpredetermined distance between the rail surfaces, and means foraccommodating said rail rollers to changes in distance as aforesaid.

8. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed affording a generally rectangular planar topplate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side portions joined to and dependingfrom spaced opposite sides of said top plate and terminating in surfacesthat are spaced one from another and terminating in substantially thesame plane to afford a pair of fixed upper rail surfaces for a platencarriage, means affording leg elements secured to said bed, meansdisposed below said upper rail surfaces and affording a lower railsurface extending parallel thereto, a platen carriage including a guidehaving rail roller means engaging said lower rail surface, a platenroller carried by said platen carriage, other rail roller means carriedby said platen carriage and engaging said upper rail surfaces, andeccentric means associated with said other rail roller means and havinga path of eccentricity normal to said rail surfaces.

9. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed affording a generally rectangular planar topplate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side portions joined to and dependingfrom spaced opposite sides of said top plate and terminating in surfacesthat are spaced one from another and terminating in substantiallly thesame plane to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces for a platencarriage, means affording leg elements secured to said bed, meansdisposed below said rail surfaces and affording another rail surfaceextending parallel thereto, a platen carriage having spaced rail rollersdisposed in engagement with said rail surfaces, a platen roller carriedby said platen carriage, and adjustable eccentric means affording theaxis of rotation for the rail rollers which enmade therefrom, elongatedside portions bent downwardly from spaced opposite sides of said topplate and terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced onefrom another to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces for a platencarriage, means supporting a rail member affording another rail surfacefacing the first-named rail surfaces in spaced relation thereto, aplaten carriage rotatably supporting a platen roller, a guide secured tosaid platen carriage and having portions slidably embracing said railmember to prevent lateral shifting of the platen carriage relative tothe rail structure, and rail rollers on said carriage engaging saidopposed rail surfaces.

11. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid sheet material and affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom, elongated sideportions bent down- Wardly from spaced opposite sides of said top plateand terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced one fromanother to afford a pair of downwardly facing fixed rail surfaces for aplaten carriage, means supporting a rail member affording a single otherupwardly facing rail surface facing the first named rail surfaces inopposed spaced relation thereto, said rail member being substantiallycentered between the first-named rail surfaces, a platen carriagerotatably supporting a platen roller, rail rollers on said carriageengaging said opposed rail surfaces, and means to shift the axis of theplaten roller in a direction' normal to the rail surfaces while the railrollers are so engaged.

12. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid sheet material and affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom, elongated sideportions bent downwardly from spaced opposite sides of said top plateand terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced one fromanother to'afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces for a platen carriagelugs bent downwardlyfrom each of the remaining opposite sides of saidtop plate at spaced loca' tions to serve as elements which afford thesupporting leg structure of the machine, a platen carriageand associatedplaten roller related to said bed and top plate for reciprocal movementrelative thereto, a gauge for a sheet to be printed disposed on said topplate out of the path of move-f ment of said platen roller, a springelement serving as a gauge for a printing plate and disposed in the pathof movement of the platen roller but depressible by the platen roller.

13. A ma'chineaccording to claim 12 wherein the firstnamed gauge isadjustable to accommodate sheets of different size. I

14. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression tobemade as aforesaid, a bed including a generally rectangular planar topplate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side members depending from spacedopposite sides of said top plate and terminating in fiat downwardlyfacing surfaces that are spaced one from another and which terminate insubstantially the same plane to afford a pair of fixed rail surfaces fora platen carriage, means supporting beneath said top plate an elongatedmember affording a single rail surface facing toward the first-namedrail sur faces in opposed spaced relation thereto and centeredtherebetween, a reciprocal platen carriage rotatably supporting a platenroller, rail rollers on said carriage engaging said opposed railsurfaces, and a guide secured to the carriage'and having portionsslidably embracing sides of.

said elongated member to prevent lateral shift of said carriage. i

15. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is sup ported in position to enable an impression tobe made as aforesaid, a bed affording a planar top plate adapted tosupport said printing means in position to have an imprint madetherefrom, elongated side members depending from spaced opposite sidesof said top plate and terminating in downwardly facing surfaces that arespaced one from another and which terminate in substantially the sameplane to afford a pair of fixed upper rail surfaces for a platencarriage, a platen carriage extending transversely relative to said topplate and including means rotatably supporting a platen roller formovement in a plane spaced from the plane of said top plate, railrollers carried by said platen carriage and disposed in engagement withsaid rail surfaces, means supporting beneath said top plate an elongatedmember affording a lower rail surface facing the first-named railsurfaces in spaced opposed relation thereto, a platen carriage guide,rail rollers carried by said guide and disposed in engagement with saidlower rail surface, and means to so shift relative to said upper railsurfaces the means which rotatably support said platen roller.

16. A machine according to claim 15 wherein said elongated memberaffording the other rail surface is centered between the first-namedrail surfaces and extends parallel thereto.

17. A machine according to claim 16 wherein said platen guide has sideelements disposed substantially in engaged relation with opposed sidesof said elongated member which affords the other rail surface.

18. In a hand operated printing machine wherein' an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over print-' I surfaces facing toward andspaced from the first-named guide rail surface, a platen carriage havinga guide ex tended transversely of said guide rail surfaces, said guide'having rail roller means arranged to travel on the firstnamed guide railsurface, said platen carriage having rail ro ller means arranged totravel along the second-named guide rail surfaces whereby said platencarriage is mounted for reciprocal movement relative to said top plate,and a platen roller rotatably supported by said platen carriage on anaxis spaced a predetermined dis-' tance above the plane of the topplate.

19. A machine according to claim 18 having means affording a rack on thetop plate, a gear' carried by the platen carriage and disposed inalignment with said rack so as to be driven by the rack when in meshtherewith 5 during a reciprocal-movement of the platen carriage, andmeans actuated by said gear to shift the axis of said platen roller.

20. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid material and affording a planartop plate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side portions joined to a pair ofspaced opposite sides of said top plate and terminating in downwardlyfacing surfaces that are spaced one from another and which terminate insubstantially the same plane to afiord a pair of fixed rail surfaces fora platen carriage, means supporting a member affording a single otherrail surface facing the first-named rail surfaces in spaced relationthereto and centered therebetween, a reciprocal platen carriagerotatably supporting a platen roller, rail roller means supported by thecarriage at the outer extremities thereof and engaging the first-namedrail surfaces, and rail roller means supported by the carriage inwardlyof the first-named rollers and engaging said other rail surface.

21. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade on a sheet disposed over printing means having type charactersthereon and which is supported in position to enable an impression to bemade as aforesaid, a bed formed of rigid material and affording a planartop plate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom, elongated side portions joined to a pair ofspaced opposite sides of said top plate and terminating in a pair offlat downwardly facing surfaces that are spaced one from another andwhich terminate in substantially the same plane to afford a pair offixed rail surfaces for a platen carriage, caps removably attached tothe opposed ends of said bed and having portions disposed below saidrail surfaces to afford the legs for said machine, an elongated railmember extending bet-ween said end caps and being centered between saidfirst-named rail surfaces and affording a third rail surface below andfacing the first-named rail surfaces, a reciprocal platen carriagerotatably supporting a platen roller, a pair of rollers supported by thecarriage and engaging said paired rail surfaces, and a pair of alignedrollers supported by the carriage and engaging said third rail surface.

22. A machine according to claim 21 wherein adjustable means supportsaid elongated rail member for adjustment toward and away from saidpaired rail surfaces.

23. A machine according to claim 22 wherein carriage stops are affordedat the opposed ends of said elongated rail member to engage one or theother of the rollers which ride on said third rail surface.

24. A machine according to claim 21 wherein the platen carriage includesspaced opposed surfaces engaging spaced opposed surfaces of saidelongated rail member to limit lateral shift of the platen carriage.

25. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade by a platen roller when in printing position on a sheet disposedover printing means having type characters thereon, means affording atop plate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom as aforesaid, a platen carriage and an associatedplaten roller mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to saidplate, a rack on said top plate, a gear supported by the platen carriageand disposed in alignment with said rack so as to be driven when in meshwith the rack during reciprocal movement of the platen carriage, andmeans interconnecting said gear and the platen roller to shift theplaten roller normal to said top plate when said rack and gear aredrivingly meshed as aforesaid.

26. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade by a platen roller when in printing position on a sheet disposedover printing means having type characters thereon, means affording atop plate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom as aforesaid, a platen carriage and an associatedplaten rol-ler mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to saidplate, a rack on said top plate, a gear supported for oscillation by theplaten carriage and having the teeth thereof disposed in alignment withsaid rack so as to be driven when in mesh with the rack duringreciprocal movement of the platen carriage, and eccentric means drivenby and with said gear and supporting the platen roller to shift theplaten roller normal to said top plate when said rack and gear aredrivingly meshed as aforesaid.

27. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade by a platen roller when in printing position on a sheet disposedover printing means having type characters thereon, means affording atop plate adapted to support said printing means in position to have animprint made therefrom as aforesaid, a platen carriage and an associatedplaten roller mounted for reciprocal movement with respect to saidplate, a pair of spaced racks on said top plate, a gear supported by theplaten carriage for oscillation between first and second limit positionsand having the teeth thereof disposed in alignment with said racks so asto be driven when in mesh with the racks during reciprocal movement ofthe platen carriage, a cam associated with said gear and movabletherewith between said limit positions, a holding detent in the platencarriage engageable with limit surfaces on said cam to bias the gear inits limit positions, and eccentric means driven by and with said gearand supporting the platen roller to shift the axis of the platen rollerrespectively into and out of printing position when said gear is meshedrespectively with said racks as aforesaid.

28. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade by a platen roller when in printing position on a sheet disposedover printing means having type characters thereon, means affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom as aforesaid, aplaten carriage and an associated platen roller mounted for reciprocalmovement with respect to said plate, a pair of spaced racks on said topplate, a gear supported by the platen carriage for oscillation betweenfirst and second limit positions and disposed in alignment with saidracks so as to be driven in one direction into one such limit positionwhen in mesh with one of the racks and driven in the opposite directionand into the other limit position when in mesh with the other rackduring reciprocal movements of the platen carriage in oppositedirections, and means interconnecting said gear and the platen roller toshift the platen roller from a non-printing to a printing position whenmeshed with one of said racks and vice versa when meshed with the otherof said racks as aforesaid.

29. In a hand operated printing machine wherein an impression is to bemade by a platen roller when in printing position on a sheet disposedover printing means having type characters thereon, means affording agenerally rectangular planar top plate adapted to support said printingmeans in position to have an imprint made therefrom as aforesaid, aplaten carriage and an associated platen roller mounted for reciprocalstrokes with respect to said plate, a pair of spaced racks on said topplate, a gear supported by the platen carriage for oscillation betweenfirst and second limit positions and disposed in alignment with saidracks so as to be driven in one direc tion into one such limit positionwhen in mesh with one of the racks and driven in the opposite directionand into the other limit position when in mesh with the other rackduring respective strokes, of the platen carriage in oppositedirections, and eccentric means adapted. to be turned with said gear andsupporting the platen roller so as to shift the platen roller from anon-printing to a printing position when the gear is meshed with one ofsaid racks and vice versa when the gear is meshed with the other of saidracks during reciprocal strokes of the platen carriage as aforesaid.

30. A machine according to claim 29 wherein the gear has a toothdisposed in position to strike the first of the teeth in the related oneof the racks when the gear is in one limit position, and wherein thegear has another tooth disposed in position to strike the first of theteeth in the other rack when the gear is in its other limit position,and wherein the platen carriage is provided with a spring elementengageable with the member affording the gear to bias the gear in itslimit positions with the gear teeth disposed in such limit positions asaforesaid.

31. In a hand operated printing machine wherein a platen carriage andplaten roller supported thereby are to be reciprocated relative to a bedaffording a planar surface on which a printing means is to be located,and when the platen roller is to be shifted in a direction normal tosaid planar surface, means supporting and guiding the platen carriagefor reciprocal strokes in opposite directions, means rotatablysupporting the platen roller in the platen carriage, a rack supported bysaid bed and a gear carried by said platen carriage for oscillatingmotion, said gear being disposed to mesh with said rack and beoscillated thereby in the course of a stroke of the platen carriage, andmeans operated by said gear for shifting vertically the means whichrotatably support said platen roller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS LambMar. 17, 1936 Schaefer' Sept. 7, 1937 McKiernan Mar. 24, 1942 FOREIGNPATENTS Germany Feb. 23, 1904 Great Britain Sept. 23, 1926

